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Madonna’s 25 Best Live Performances

By Laila Abuelhawa
Madonna performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Madonna isn’t called the Queen of Pop for no reason: she has been THE entertainer since the 80s.

We scoured through footage from her live performances over the last 40 years and compiled the best ones (in no particular order) in celebration of her birthday today (August 16).

Take a look below:

  • Like A Prayer

    Complete with crosses and nuns, this high-energy performance took place during her Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990.

  • Vogue

    Madonna went full-on Marie Antoinette at the 1990 MTV VMA’s. We love the theatrics with the fans.

  • Sooner Or Later

    During the 1991 Oscars, the song won the award for Best Original Song. Madonna attended the ceremony with Michael Jackson as her date and performed “Sooner or Later” in a look inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

  • Music

    Madonna was joined by The Tonight Show‘s Jimmy Fallon and The Roots in 2022 to play “Music” using classroom instruments.

  • Ghosttown

    In a televised performance of “Ghosttown” in 2015, Madonna was supported by Taylor Swift on guitar.

  • Into The Groove

    This classic performance from Madonna took place during her 1990 The Blond Ambition World Tour, her third concert featuring her fourth studio album Like a Prayer.

  • La Isla Bonita

    Madonna showed off her savvy footwork and put on her dancing shows for this performance during her 2006 during The Confessions Tour.

  • Express Yourself / Deeper and Deeper

    Joined by two other women with big hair, Madonna got “into the groove” during her 1993 The Girlie Show.

  • Crazy For You

    At 27 years old, Madonna performed “Crazy For You” during her debut concert, The Virgin Tour.

  • The Power Of Good-Bye

    We absolutely love gothic Madonna, performing on France’s TF1 in 1998.

  • Live To Tell

    Madonna brought the drama from the 80s in 1987 during The Who’s That Girl World Tour.

  • Frozen

    Combining inspiration from Japan’s culture, she performed “Frozen” during 2001’s Drowned World Tour.

  • Dress You Up

    The energy and costumes for Madonna’s debut tour are unmatched. This is from 1985’s The Virgin Tour.

  • Sorry

    During the 2006 Confessions Tour, Madonna had a cage-like structure that her dancers climbed upon.

  • Hung Up

    In 2006, Madonna performed the dance hit “Hung Up” with a little help from Gorillaz during the Grammys.

  • Holiday

    Madonna performed this classic on 1980’s variety show Solid Gold.

  • Ray Of Light

    Name a more 2000’s performance than this, we dare you. Performed in Michigan during her 2001 Drowned World Tour.

  • Billie Jean/Like A Virgin

    The Queen of Pop took the King of Pop’s “Billie Jean” and mashed it up with “Like A Virgin” in 1985 during The Virgin Tour.

  • Candy Shop

    5 years after 50 Cent released “Candy Shop,” Madonna released her own version and her sugar is raw. Performed during her 2008-2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour.

  • Celebration / Give It 2 Me

    During her 2012 MDNA tour, Madonna proved she’s still a powerhouse entertainer while performing her hit, “Celebration” in Miami.

  • Paradise (Not For Me)

    In a moving acoustic set accompanied by her friend Isaac, Madonna’s voice sends chills down our spine. From her 2006 Confessions Tour.

  • Gambler

    In another great live performance from her 1985 The Virgin Tour in Detroit, Madonna incorporates a big fan to show she’s a superstar.

  • Give It 2 Me

    During her 2008-2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour, Madonna keeps the dance hits going strong in this electrifying dance mix version of the song.

  • Papa Don't Preach

    While “robbing” one of her dancers knocked out cold in a bit during her 2012 MDNA tour, Madonna drops their chain into her cleavage and stuffs dollar bills in their mouth.

  • True Blue

    In 2015, during her Rebel Heart Tour, Madonna whipped out the ukulele for a rare performance of “True Blue.”

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